Discussion

Easter again.
It is now almost one year that a fiercely debated, long-delayed investigation into Ireland’s Roman Catholic-run institutions has been published. It says priests and nuns of more than 250 church-run institutions terrorized thousands of boys and girls in workhouse-style schools for decades — and government inspectors failed to stop the chronic beatings, rapes and humiliation.
The report concluded that church officials always shielded their orders’ pedophiles from arrest (...)
continue

After the endless sunny days in December and January now finally the rainy season started. Punctually at 3pm the skies open and Singapore gets flooded. Nothing to do except watching the grey clouds emptying their load over the jungle.
It seems the global crisis now finally made its entry in Asia too. Instead of travel destinations and latest technical gadgets now the talks are about cost cutting, travel bans and bill restrictions. The fancy bank towers in the Central Business District are (...)
continue

INFLATION figures in Singapore have hit record highs, with over 6 per cent reported for the first months, the highest for 25 years, and then holding at 7.5 per cent from April to June. This has surprised many Singaporeans, who wonder why it has happened and what to do about it.
To some, it is a kind of opportunity. In May, I was in California with old friends who had emigrated and they told me how so many Singaporeans come to visit just to go shopping. Everything seems so cheap there, (...)
suite